Transferring to Royal Marsden?

The Royal Marsden is a Cancer Centre of Excellence, so your mum would get the most up to date treatment.  That said, most hospitals do stay pretty up to date with latest developments, so I can't see that UCL would be much different.

I know that you want to do something for your mum, but what does she want?

Carolyn28 was treated at the Royal Marsden and was overall happy, but had some issues.

I also know someone who had a DIEP procedure there which was horrific and so it isn't always the best.

hi 

The Royal Marsden is incredibly busy due to its mythical status as the top cancer hospital in the country.

Unfortunately for me it didn't deliver, they missed a whole tumour during surgery because it hadn't been reported in the scans. I was referred by our local hospital as they didn't have a breast surgeon at the time.

On the up side it is a dedicated cancer hospital and therefore secondary infection rates are low, which has to be considered when contemplating chemotherapy due to risks but most people do have to attend a general hospital and survive on checking their temperatures regularly and stepping up personal hygiene.

I have heard good things about UCL and if I were you I'd stick with that. 

Are you closer to UCL ?

Carolyn

x

Thank you both for replying to my question.
Helen, what my mum wants is the best reasonable cancer treatment, which I guess most cancer patients want.
Carolyn, yes we live in North London, only 30 minutes to UCLH by tube.
I also forgot to ask about the possibility of going private with regards to her UCLH / Royal Marsden descision. If it turns out that my mum needs treatment or surgery, but the waiting list is too long, she may consider going private.
Are the private diagnostics and treatments better at UCLH or at Royal Marsden? Would I have access to a different group of consultants if I went private? Or would I just get seen quicker? Is it easier to transfer from NHS care to private care at either hospital?

Thank you both for replying to my question.

Helen, what my mum wants is the best reasonable cancer treatment, which I guess most cancer patients want.

Carolyn, yes we live in North London, only 30 minutes to UCLH by tube.

I also forgot to ask about the possibility of going private with regards to her UCLH / Royal Marsden descision. If it turns out that my mum needs treatment or surgery, but the waiting list is too long, she may consider going private.

Are the private diagnostics and treatments better at UCLH or at Royal Marsden? Would I have access to a different group of consultants if I went private? Or would I just get seen quicker? Is it easier to transfer from NHS care to private care at either hospital?

Sorry about posting the same things twice, I am using my mum's laptop, it has some problems.

Dear

Do you know your Mom's diagnosis yet?  Dependant on what your Mom has can make a difference to what treatments she will have.

I have read good things about UCLH and also the Royal Free Hospital - I know they are 'up there' with various types of treatment along with various trials of treatment. You are very fortunate to live in North London to have such facilities near by.

I am sure for all BC patients the 'treatment plan' is worked out 'very' quickly, sometimes, too quick as not all options seem to be given, you get onto the roller coaster ride and its away before you have time to think (maybe thats a good thing - maybe not). in most cases treatments start within a 'few' weeks. The NHS have BC treatments really well sorted out and have tailored treatments for all.

I stepped outside the box for my treatment, I had Wide Local Excision/Lumpectomy operation with combined 'IORT' 'Internal' Radiotherapy treatment this was 'given at the same time as the operation' (this saved me waiting for my wound site to heal, then having to have 3 to 4 weeks of 'daily' 'external' radiotherapy treatment. It was all done in 'one operation'.  I do not regret it one little bit and will remain eternally grateful that I was able to have this type of treatment.  (The 'internal radiotherapy' treatment, I believe is only available for a single tumour).

With regards to your question 'is it easier to transfer from NHS care to private care - for me, after doing my research and knowing what I was going to 'go with', all I had to do was phone the Secretary of the Surgeon/Consultant that I wanted to see - made appointment to go and see them (phoned on Friday, appointment on Monday) everything else was sorted out for me..... Operation that 'Friday', Friday the 13th to be exact :o 

(although all this seems 'quick' which it was, I was 'messed around' by my chosen Consultant local to where I live (West Midlands), so whilst I was waiting, this gave me time to do my own research, (this turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it caused me to leave my original consultant), I made contacted with my 'would be' new Consultant in London and never looked back.  

I hope I've helped a little and not confused the situation xx

hi

The consultants are usually the same, I saw my oncologist privately once because she was so busy and I just wanted some reassurance specifically from her. She didn't end up charging me. 

The surgeons at the Royal Marsden - Chelsea  (RMH) if you go privately you will have your surgeon / consultant and perhaps his chosen partner for the surgery but via the NHS there is a duty set each day and it's a bit of a lottery. I cannot recommend my first surgeon and he has now left the RMH.  My revision surgery was carried out by Mr Gui who is fantastic. He also has a private practice. 

In my experience the imaging department at RMH needs a good shake up. Hand on heart I cannot say go to the RMH you will get great care. I have heard good things about UCLH but I have no experience, just a professor of computing we know at UCL sad his wife was treated there and had great care. 

Surgery should take place no longer than 31 days after the decision has been made by the multi disciplinary team, so you will never wait longer than that, in theory and the normal wait seems to be about 2 weeks.  I had to wait all 31 days at the RMH.

Private care, whilst not infallible, will always get you a little more care and attention because you are paying for the time.

My oncologist, knowing I'd have dozens of questions, suggested she see me as her last patient in clinic to allow a little more time but you get about 20 minutes if you're lucky.  Ultimately none of my several thousand questions made any difference to my chemotherapy treatment. 

Surgery, I questioned everything, and am still alive today because I did. 

hope that helps

Carolyn

I went to RM for my surgery. I was a private patient (have insurance) and chose surgeons recommended by a friend - Mr Gui and Mr Harris. I had brilliant treatment from all the staff and I am sorry to read that some people did not have a great experience.

Private gives you more options as you are paying - you decide on surgeons, no over worked NHS staff trying to meet targets and apologising for all the waiting in clinics. Most importantly for me since taking out my policy was saving the NHS the cost of my treatment - and its a lot!

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I hope your mum meets a surgeo and BCN with whom she feels happy.

Big hugs.

Charing X is also excellent. Whichever you choose they have to give you an appointment within two weeks. I was referred to Charing X and was seen in 4 days, saw consultant and biopsies taken, then 1 week for results and surgery booked two weeks later. The staff have been fantastic. Starting chemo in a week and oncologist spent an hour and a half discussing treatment and happily went through my 2 pages of questions. Apart from waiting for bloods you won’t get that much better privately. I have felt I’m being treated with respect and empathy and every member of staff has been lovely. 

Also important to think of practicalities with so many trips to hospital - so long as it’s a good teaching hospital (and UCL is) would it be easier for you going there when you are there so much.  I have appointments almost daily at the moment  for various tests before chemo. It can all be tiring and a bit overwhelming so it helps not being too far away. 

Best of luck with all of it. Your mum is so lucky to have you supporting her.  

Just to say thanks for all the info and responses.We saw the doctor on Friday and as it was a simple case, we decided to stick with UCL.

I’m so pleased for you be and for your Mom. 

It is a roller coaster ride and it’s good you are looking into everything. I think this gives you more confidence in knowing what is happening. 

Please keep in touch and let us know how everything goes xx